As a Translator, How Do You Deal with Conflicting Values?

Studio Steve Bergeron

In translation, as in many professions, psychological distress is due to conflicting values. You are a perfectionist but you also want to be productive. You know full well, however, that your perfectionism wins out over your desire to be productive. When you’re under the gun to up your productivity, how do you handle it? Deep down, who controls your emotions? Your inner “coach” who believes in you, your potential and your ability to deliver a high-quality text despite a gruelling deadline? Or the “executioner” who proffers useless judgments, criticisms and condemnation by harping on how slow you are?

Translation: Nancy A. Locke